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Margaret's Daffodil Legacy
Merle Reuser
February 12, 2013
Margaret’s Daffodil Legacy
As told by Merle Reuser
Our Journey into the fields of yellow- began somewhere between 1850 and 1900. During this time frame thousands of people populated the hills and mountains of Sonoma County, most involved with logging. During this period, ranches dotted the landscape, and, along with the architecture, flowers. At this time daffodils were among the hardiest of all colors, and over decades they became a permanent resident of the landscape around the ranches.
During the 1920s, the Kohler family purchased a 400 acre parcel and moved on to the estate. During the roaring ‘20s, daffodils dotted the landscape, scattered about on 4 acres around the residence. Being one of the most resilient plants known, these flecks of sunshine have survived over a century with no care of any kind.
Shortly after World War II there was a migration of people to Sonoma County from around the nation. One member of this movement was Ernie Reuser who built a sawmill near Cloverdale, California. Being neighbors, John Kohler’s spread covered one ridge top and Ernie’s mill was located on an adjoining ridge. They became friends-- like people were friends after the war-- much different than today.
In June, 1947, Ernie and his wife Esther began their lives as parents when the son, Merle was born. As Merle began his journey on the road of life, Margaret, daughter and only child of John Kohler, evolved into an adopted grandmother to Merle. As the years passed, young Reuser developed a true love for nature, people, and life as a whole, especially flowers. Before the ripe ol age of 10, Margaret had Merle helping her harvest daffodils and saddled him with the responsibility of delivering the bouquets to her friends in Cloverdale. This ritual continued until he finished high school. At that point, the bouquets ceased their annual appearances around Cloverdale, as Merle worked his way through life. College, military, family, career, etc. Placed demands on time such that the flowers went through their cycle with few, other than Margaret, enjoying their magic--thousands of them.
From 1965 to roughly 1995, visits to Margaret were few and short, but the love of it all countless memories of the ‘50s and ‘60s burned inside Reuser. By the mid- ‘90s, life had backed off with its pressures, and visits to Margaret became a priority. After a three decade absence, the flowers reappeared in Cloverdale.
By 1999 Margaret had an impressive collection of birthdays 103 to be exact, and time was short. During a visit in her final year, she passed in June of 2000 after 104 birthdays, Merle told her he would pick her ‘dills and giveaway “a ton of daffodils” in her memory after she was gone. She loved the idea.
A daffodil program was created in 1999, a plan which has the goal of giving away 1,000,000 daffodils by 2030.
2015 marks the 16th year of the program, and a strong foundation has been built, one which will support the 2030 goal.
As time passes,we plan to see more of Sonoma County decorated with daffodils, and by 2030 be recognized as the “Daffodil Giveaway Capital of the World,” all in memory of a grand lady. Margaret Kohler Adams, whose life spanned three centuries.
A Daffodil’s Life
By Merle Reuser, January 26, 2015
Early January, we are at a point on our journey around the sun where we take center stage in the world of flowers for the next few months. Daffodils are globally recognized as the flower of regard, chivalry, respect, and new beginnings. By late January we “first responders” are present-slender, graceful, queen-like-bringing smiles to most everyone as we signal winter is half over. We do claim to have magical powers as we enjoy the day no matter the situation. Happiness is an inside job.
We bond well with the sun and blue sky and do equally well with wind and rain. The elements are our friends. We have our own energy and excitement and dance free-style, but we also partner dance with the wind well.
As our three week performance plays out, other participants appear, some as soloists, and others could fill an arena. During our time in the spotlight we grace the landscape far and wide.
As our theater comes to a close, we look back on another stellar performance. We have shared Mother Nature with Rainbows, three full moons, and lifted the spirits of most everyone. Now it’s back to the dressing room to prepare for our next appearance beginning next January.
The Last Word:
Sharing is Contagious
By Greg Freeman
In his critically acclaimed book, Adventures of a Gardener ( London: Harvill Press, 1995) Sir Peter Smithers, reportedly the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond, asserts, “ The pleasure of owning a fine plant is not complete until it has been given to friends.” As daffodilians, we know that for sure, don’t we? Bulbs increase and require dividing. We logically share the extras with fellow plant lovers and newcomers. Hybridists swap pollen. And rock garden aficionados share seeds. Too often though, we underestimate the impact our little daffodils can make, and we tend to think of sharing as an insignificant necessity. Flatly put, we think small!
Recently, Bob Spotts contacted me regarding an individual who has been an absolute pleasure getting to know. He’s a bit like John Wayne, but has a generous spirit more akin to Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie. Santa Rosa, California’s Merle Reuser is not your average daffodil lover(whatever that might be!). He doesn’t know many daffodils by their cultivar or species name. He doesn’t exhibit ( not yet, at least). He couldn’t care less about hybridizing. And, in spite of having access to thousands of daffodils, he in neither motivated by money nor recognition, in his quest to share daffodils with the masses.
That’s a lot of bulbs, you say? Well, bulbs are not exactly what he gives away, but, yes, let’s just say a lot of bulbs are involved. In collaboration with Rhonda Wright Smart, her cousin, Kathy Wright, and countless others who play their part, Merle Reuser is continuing a legacy begun by Margaret Kohler Adams: sharing cut daffodils with as many people as possiblle! Since 1999, over 127,000 stems have been given away, distinguishing Sonoma County (in the San Francisco Bay Area) as the “ daffodil Giveaway Capital of the World.”
Merle, 67, began working with Margaret Adams as a young boy, helping her harvest acres of daffodils and deliver bouquets to friends in Cloverdale. As he grew into a young man, Merle continued assisting Margaret. College, military, family and career responsibilities forced him to take a three- decade hiatus from picking and delivering Margaret’s daffodils, although he continued to visit her. Around 1995, he resumed helping his dear friend, whose life would span three centuries. Knowing time was short, Merle told a delighted Margaret, in what would be her final year, that he would continue to “pick her ‘dils and give away a ‘ton of daffodils’ in her memory after she was gone.” The program, Margaret’s Daffodil Legacy, was created in 1999, with a goal of giving away 1,000,000 daffodils by 2030. Meanwhile, Margaret passed away in June 2000 at the age of 104.
As the project has grown and involved more than the original late nineteenth century daffodil plantings on Margaret’s property, Merle says: “ It just seems like every year it keeps escalating. We plant more bulbs. We dig out the bulbs the bulbs need dividing and replant them, and it has evolved from giving away 2,000 [cut flowers] in the year 2000 to giving away 20,000 this year, And we’re hoping to give away 50,000 a year, and that’s why we keep planting and getting the numbers up.” Individuals- young and young at heart- and families throughout the community have taken up the cause, and their labors result in flowers being shared each spring among everyone from grade school kids to the homebound elderly. The flowers have also been used in celebrations of life and other commemorative events. Perhaps Rhonda Smart sums it up best when she says, “ I’ve seen the faces of those people when these daffoidls are handed out, and it’s amazing what a huge ray of sunshine it brings to the people who receive these daffodils.”
And that sounds like as good a reason as any to share the joy of daffodils. If sharing is contagious, let’s spread our “yellow fever” with gusto, through whichever means we can ( bulbs, cut flowers, etc.), and take a lesson from a 104 - year- old Californian whose passion has been taken up by some devoted proteges and a community united by our favorite flower.
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